title: An approach to the ethical evaluation of innovative surgical procedures.
abstract: While there is an ethical obligation to improve clinical outcomes by developing better therapies, surgical innovation has largely progressed without the strict regulations required of novel pharmaceutical products. We explore the reasons why new surgical techniques are frequently introduced without the benefit of randomised controlled trials, and present an approach to the ethical evaluation of novel surgical procedures.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.
authors.forename: Veronique K M
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Pierce K H
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Chow
mesh_terms: D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000941:ethics*; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004059:Diffusion of Innovation; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D013502:General Surgery / Q000941:ethics* / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D008485:Medical Audit; D008511:Medicine; D012846:Singapore; D013044:Specialty Boards